Little Pig brings big, buoyant ideas to the Klang Valley's Spanish food scene, with chef Yong Yu Khim returning to Malaysia after honing his craft in recent years at Singapore's Barcelona-inspired FOC Restaurant. True to FOC's inspiration, traditional tapas are reinterpreted with 21st-century flair, featuring playfully memorable twists in the ingredients and their preparations: Start with the tomato strawberry gazpacho, lively and fruity, balanced by the butteriness of olive oil ice cream in a beautifully calibrated chilled treat that's very effective in refreshing the palate (RM16).
Patatas bravas and tortilla might be predictable fare at most Spanish eateries, but Little Pig takes a leaf from FOC with its potato pleasures, constructed with flavoursome Agria potatoes. Patatas bravas are reconstructed as mille-feuille potatoes that resemble the layers of leeks, deep-fried for a crisp bite, a moreish-munching snack with aioli and chipotle sauce (RM23). Little Pig's thick Spanish omelettes, cracked up with antioxidant-rich OnZen eggs, are also packed with confit-cooked potatoes, with a choice of Gouda cheese and white onions add-ons for even more taste and texture (RM18).
Paella is more than capably executed, with firm, nutty grains partnered with plenty of meat and seafood for robust, creamy mouthfuls, aromatic with no lack of saffron. Try the one with Duroc pork belly, pig ears and scallops for PJ's most decadent paella (RM48 for a medium portion that two can share). Pork devotees can also order the richly marbled presa iberica, the prized cut that's notable for its juicy savouriness, completed here with pickled apple sheets and chorizo ketchup (RM58).
Don't leave without desserts, for a winking conclusion: Crema catalana is refashioned as dense curd with lemon caramel for a crunchy-meringued sandwich (RM18), while burgers are turned into sumptuous sweet sensations, too-cute-to-eat with Valrhona chocolate mousse instead of beef patties and white chocolate ice cream encased in the 'bun' and 'fries' (RM30).
Accompany your meal with Cava as as well as gin-and-tonics; sangria should be available soon. We sat in Little Pig's drinking section, as its dining area was still being painted with an octopus mural when we visited. The dining area looks like a warm, cheerful spot with counter seats for the open kitchen, while the drinking section features neon-lit pig artwork whose ever-changing colours might wreak havoc for food photography after sunset; a rooftop bar above the restaurant is also in the works. The service brigade is very friendly and works efficiently to ensure a pleasant experience.
Little Pig Tapas
Lot B1-06,The Hub SS2, 19 Sentral, Jalan Harapan, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Open Mon, Wed-Thurs, 6pm-11pm; Fri-Sun, 6pm-1am. Tel: 016-2222708
This post first appeared on eatdrinkkl.com
